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From as far back as I can remember, music has been an essential part of my life. I have always been open to listening to many different genres and knew at an early age that I wanted to be a singer. Still, I would have to say that songwriting has turned out to be the most rewarding aspect of working on music. My greatest desire is that my love of storytelling will be evident to others and that these words will be able to touch someone elses life.
Jakki Jelene is an angelic and captivating singer, songwriter, and musician who resides in San Diego, California. She became an avid music lover from an early age. Never content to be only a fan, Jakki Jelene became involved in platforms that nurtured her passion. She began performing in grade school plays and musical productions. In early adolescence, Jakki Jelene joined the school and church choir. This experience exposed her to vocal music, sparking an unquenchable fire. Jakki Jelene learned to play the saxophone in junior high, where she began to explore her love of playing music. All of these experiences helped to cultivate her ever growing desire to be a part of the musical landscape.
Jakki Jelene soon discovered her own love for song writing after receiving her first guitar as a gift. Self-taught, she spent countless hours playing and writing music. That experience resulted in the dreamy and disarming homemade CD, Acoustic, consisting of 12 stripped down tracks featuring only acoustic backing. Despite its lack of production quality, Acoustic received a surprising amount of attention. During this time she also played a few live sets in local venues. With her natural, inviting stage presence, the audience was awestruck and captured by her powerful vocals, attention grabbing lyrics, and melodic guitar playing.
At this point she had written over seventy songs and was prepared to begin experimenting with electronic based soundscapes. Jakki Jelene collaborated with various independent artists, creating songs such as Invisible, Crash & Burn and Heaven Bound, all of which can be found on the Heaven Bound EP. These inspiring and alluring works provided the experience needed to begin work on her next musical project.
In 2006 Jakki Jelene released her first full length album, entitled Reflections. The songs featured a mix of collaborations with TFS and Jess Hanna, as well as her first solo work. The music included a rich ambiance of harmonies and electronic beats, and the lyrics within ranged in topic from the ever-important love, to social issues affecting our culture. Working on Reflections allowed Jakki to explore music beyond songwriting and singing, and delve into composition and production. She eagerly began putting these new-found tools to use by endeavoring to realize a new musical vision.
In 2009 Jakki Jelene released Seasons, an emotional and spiritual exploration of the four seasons with each track featuring a different instrument to capture the overall atmosphere associated with that particular time of year. Unlike Reflections, Seasons was much more organic in nature. The instruments highlighted were piano, strings, acoustic guitar and wind instruments. This project allowed Jakki to work with Daniel Gardner, a veteran songwriter and worship leader, who provided the superb piano compositions that set the mood for four of the six tracks. Jakkis brother, Gregory Platte, also contributed a melodic guitar solo to the song Summer and her niece, Autumn Ford, provided the stunning cover art. These brilliant contributions from such intimate connections definitely enhanced the experience and truly made the project a labor of love.
Jakki Jelene continues to work on music, with releases planned into the foreseeable future. She hopes to touch others with her passionate, thought provoking lyrics and soothing vocals. Although she never knows where her next project will take her, one thing is for certainit will come from the heart. - Bio from
Occasionally I have played live in local pubs, but have not ventured out into this territory in quite some time. I do however still perform on the Worship Team at my church and in various programs. Right now I am taking the time to decide where I want to direct my energy.
JESS HANNA: My wonderful husband who stepped up and made my vision a reality by believing in me and lending his talent to ensure this project got off the ground.
TAYLOR FROM SCHOOL (TFS): For sharing his beautiful gift of music and pointing me in the right direction. I can never thank you enough!
ANGELIC VOICES: Acid House Kings, Astronaut Wife, Autumn's Grey Solace, Balligomingo, Bel Canto, BT, Cardigans, Chandeen, Club 8, Cocteau Twins, Conjure One, Cranberries, Cranes, Dead Can Dance, Delerium, Dubstar, Enigma, Everything But The Girl, Faithless, Frou Frou, Garbage, Halou, Hooverphonic, Leaves Eyes, Love Spirals Downwards, Lush, Mandalay, Massive Attack, Mazzy Star, Mira, Mono, Morcheeba, Olive, Opus III, Perfume Tree, Rosewater Elizabeth, Single Gun Theory, Sixpence None The Richer, Sneaker Pimps, Solar Twins, Stretch Princess, The Sundays, Waterlillies, Weekend Players, Basia, Bertine Zetlitz, Elizabeth Fraser, Emer Kenny, Emiliana Torrini, Enya, Esthero, Hafdis Huld, Imogen Heap, Jan Johnston, Julee Cruise, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Kylie Minogue, Lisa Gerrard, Liv Kristine, Maria Nayler, Nicola Hitchcock, Riki Michele, Sade, Stina Nordenstam, Virginia Astley, Zoe Johnston.
OTHER ARTISTS: Bee Gees, Tears For Fears, Roland Orzabal, Depeche Mode, Martin Gore, Pet Shop Boys, Alan Parsons Project, Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham, America, Firefall, Dan Fogelberg, Beach Boys, Brian Wilson, ELO, Simon & Garfunkel, Moody Blues, Bread, Carpenters, Genesis, Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Seals & Crofts, Eagles, Pink Floyd, Supertramp, Ambrosia, Hillsong, Michael W. Smith, Passion, Matt Redman, Paul Baloche, Travis Cottrell, Darlene Zschech, Chris Tomlin, Switchfoot, Among Thorns, Jars of Clay, Further Seems Forever, Sense Field, Tom Petty, Journey, David Bowie, Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, Steve Miller Band, Outfield, Yes, James Taylor, Johnny Cash, The Cars, Toto, Tommy James, Madonna, George Michael, Belinda Carlisle, Chicago, Anita Baker, Roberta Flack, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Jeffrey Osborne, Vince Guaraldi, Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Perry Como, Andy Williams, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Judy Garland, Rosemary Clooney, Billie Holiday, Doris Day, Harry Connick Jr., John Pizzarelli, Diana Krall, George Winston, David Huntsinger, Catherine Wheel, Red House Painters, Brendan Perry, Duncan Sheik, Nick Drake, Gene, Ocean Blue, David Gray, Elbow, Kings Of Convenience.
GENRES: Downtempo, Trip Hop, Electronica, Dream Pop, Trance, Shoegazer, Ambient, Goth, Ethereal, Chillout, Electro Lounge, Twee Pop, Neo-Soul, Nu-Soul, Indie, Nu-Jazz, New Age, World, Various Styles of Jazz, Classic Rock, Oldies, Praise & Worship, Classic Soul/R&B, Gospel, Synth-Pop, and even some Folk, Pop/Rock and Alternative.